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No. 6l8,44l. I

M. T. SHARP.

ROLLER BLIND. H (Application filed Feb. 6, 1898.)

Patented .Ian. 3!, I899.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. e|s,44|. Patented Ian. 3|, I899.

'm. T. SHARP.

ROLLER BLIND.

(Application filed Feb. 5, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITE STATES MATTHEW THRAVES SHARP, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ROLLER-BLIND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,441, dated January31 1899.

Application filed February 5, 1898. Serial No. 669 ,248. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW THRAVES SHARP, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at London, England, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Roller-Blinds, (for which I have applied for patents inGreat Britain, No. 18,187, dated August 4, 1897, and in France, No.260,552, dated December 3, 1897,) of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in roller-blinds, theimprovements having for their object to so construct such blinds thatthey will admit of ventilation at the upper part of the windows to whichthey are applied.

In carrying out myinvention I form in the blind, near the upper partthereof, an opening or openings, which may or may not be covered with anopen fabric or network, the said opening or openings being so placedthat when the blind is pulled down to cover the window it or they willbe opposite the top part of the window. To the said opening or openingsI adapt a flap or shade so arranged that if it be required to cover theopening or openings it is merely necessary to pull the blind downsomewhat lower, when the flap or shade will cover the said opening oropenlugs. I

It will be obvious that I can adapt my ventilatin g arrangement to morethan one part of the blind.

To enable my invention to be fully understood, I will describe the sameby reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a frontelevation, and Fig. 2 a section, showing my improved blind applied to awindow, the blind being in the position it occupies when the opening inthe blind is uncovered; and Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a backelevation and section showing the blind pulled fully down, the flap orshade being behind the said opening, so as to cover the same.

a is the blind, which in the drawings is shown applied to a window bythe ordinary spring-roller b.

c is the opening (or there maybe more than one) in the upper part of theblind, which said opening may, if desired, be covered with open fabricor network, such as cl.

blind, this flap being deep enough to cover the opening. It may bepermanently attached to the blind or may be detachably connectedthereto. The flap is provided at its lower end with lace or otherornamentation e for holding it down and also advantageously with springse e for bending its lower edge away from the opening 0 when 'itcoversthe said opening, as hereinafter described, to allow of ventilation. Thesprings being flexible can be rolled around the roller when the blind isrolled up. The flap e is secured to the face of the blind which is theouter face as the blind is wound upon the roller, as shown in thedrawings. 1

When the blind is pulled down, it will of course be unrolledfrom theroller 12, and when the lower edge of the flap 6 leaves the roller, onthe under side of the same, instead of following around the roller itwill fall down he hind the roller and permit the portion of the blindcontaining the aperture 0 to be unrolled, as shown in Fig. 2. It,therefore, the downward movement of the blind is discontinued when theopening 0 shows at the top, the loose edge of the flap 6 will be heldbetween the roller and the Woodwork of the window-casing adjacentto theroller, so that the aperture will appear just below the roller. If,however, the blind is pulled farther down, so as to disengage the looseedge of the flap from between the roller and the adjacent part of thewindow-casing, the flap will fall forward and conceal the opening 0,although even in this position the springs 6 will hold it away from theblind and thus permit the air to pass through the opening 0 for purposesof ventilation.

f is the usual cord for releasing the spring by which the blind israised.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. A roller-blind for windows comprising a roller, theblind secured atone end to the roller and provided with an aperturetherein, and a flap secured along its upper edge to the blind adjacentto the upper edge of the aperture and upon the outer face of the blindas it is wound upon the roller, whereby when e is the flap or shadewhich I apply to my 1 the blind is unrolled, the loose edge of said flapwill fall away from the roller and below the attached edge and allow theaperture to be exposed adjacent to the roller and will be drawn aroundthe roller and will fall int-0 position to cover said aperture when theblind is drawn farther down, substantially as described.

2. A roller-blin d for windows provided with an open portion adjacent tothe upper edge of the blind for ventilation, a closing flap or shadeadapted to cover said open portion, and secured to the blind above saidopen portion, and springs for holding the flap away from the blind,substantially as described.

MATTHEW' THRAVES SHARP.

lVitn esses:

G. F. REDFERN, Joan E. BOUSFIELD,

